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Devotional for Day 27, March 11, 2013

Rev. Ben Sheldon, President Emeritus, Presbyterians for Life

Intention:

We pray for the gift of openness to children.

Scripture:

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”

— Genesis 1:27-28

Reflection:

God’s intention is that we multiply and fill the earth. One of the most pernicious lies that sociologists have foisted off on the public is that the earth is becoming overpopulated. What kind of a sadistic god would create the earth and human creatures on it, only to have them literally reproduce themselves into oblivion? The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our divine Creator, has commanded us to multiply and fill the earth and far from letting the population get out of ontrol, He has, in fact given his human creatures a dominical role over all the lesser creatures.

The “birth control” movement, which had its beginnings with Margaret Sanger in the early years of the last century, has led, in many parts of the world, to a birthrate that is drastically below the normal replacement rate. God’s Word assures us that children are a blessing, that they are a reward of faithfully trusting and serving God and that they are the crown of their parents’ old age.

The spread of the contraception mentality that has so permeated our culture is, undoubtedly, a factor in the ready acceptance of abortion. God’s commandment to multiply and fill the earth has never been withdrawn. May He help us to accept the gift of children and give him thanks for every baby who is born into the world.

Prayer:

Father of mercy and grace, we thank you for the gift of our children. Grant that every fiber of our being may rejoice when a new baby, our own or any else’s, is born into the world. Help us to welcome them as we would welcome you, for whenever a new baby is conceived, another life to bear your image and another voice to praise and worship you, is beginning. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

I just returned from California and am ready to start the new week by sharing great news. So far during this campaign alone, there have been 319 babies saved from abortion -- that we know of.

This means that since 40 Days for Life began as a coordinated campaign in 2007, we are now aware of …

… MORE THAN

7 THOUSAND BABIES that God has spared in answer to all of your many hours of prayer.

And this is undeniably God’s work … because sometimes, hearts and minds can be changed without anyone saying a word.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA

Two prayer volunteers noticed a white SUV in the abortion center’s parking lot. It had decals on the back indicating a mom, a dad and several kids. The out-of-state license suggested these people had come for a late-term abortion.

They noticed a man sitting in the parked SUV, but were never able to get his attention. So they prayed.

After some time, a woman left the building and got into the SUV. As they pulled out of the lot, said one of the vigil participants, “the driver was beaming and so was the woman sitting behind him. They had a baby who looked to be about one sitting in a car seat, which explained why he never left the vehicle. “

The volunteers asked if they’d changed their minds, and they both shouted, “Yes!” and thanked everyone for their prayerful presence outside the abortion facility.

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, CALIFORNIA

Patti was at the 40 Days for Life vigil on what was sadly a fairly busy morning at the abortion center.

But as the volunteers stood on the sidewalk, “a car turned the corner slowly … a male driver with a young woman next to him, both watching us praying.”

They just pulled over to the curb and stayed there talking for a few minutes. After a while, they started the car, made a U-turn drove away.

“The young woman was crying and hiding her face from us as they drove past,” Patti said, “and we thanked God! A baby was saved due to peaceful prayer and witnessing!”

CLEVELAND, OHIO

“I have some of the most amazing news that you will be so happy to hear,” said a grateful volunteer in Cleveland. “I am still shaking and occasionally bursting into tears of joy.”

This woman was holding a sign as she prayed – a sign with the message “Women regret abortion.”

She watched as a car with a young woman and two young men pulled out of the abortion center. One of the men nudged the woman, so she stopped and rolled down the window.

“She told me that she decided not to have an abortion,” the vigil participant said. “The look of pride on her face filled me with such joy. We really are making a difference!”